New Flights: better link to NE India

Guwahati: Vistara forayed into Northeast India with its inaugural flight from New Delhi to Guwahati. StartingApril 2, Thursday, the airline will operate daily flights on the Delhi-Guwahati-Bagdogra-Delhi route.

TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known by the brand name Vistara, has vowed its commitment towards the region.

“We are committed to the Northeast and this was an informed decision to fly to the Northeast, ignoring other destinations like Jammu and Kashmir,” Phee Teik Yeoh, the chief executive officer of Vistara, said at a news conference here today.

Vistara is a joint venture of the Tata Sons Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd, draws its name from the Sanskrit word vistaar, which means limitless expanse.

The airline commenced commercial operations on January 9 this year.“We know about the viability problems in the region but we will have to manage costs. I can assure you that we will make it work in the Northeast,” he said. He said there is a plan to fly into more locations in the region.

He said the addition of this route reaffirmed their commitment to promote regional connectivity in the country and contribute to the government’s efforts to boost trade and open up development avenues for people in the region.

“We are happy to expand our operations in both Guwahati and Bagdogra and we feel that improved travel prospects will provide these cities with rightful visibility,” he said.

The draft civil aviation policy states that a special package will be developed for the Northeast to improve air connectivity and provide links to remote locations.

The route dispersal guidelines will be reviewed with the objective of encouraging Indian carriers to enhance regional connectivity through deployment of small aircraft and code-sharing arrangements.

He said regional connectivity has been hampered by over-taxation and lack of infrastructure in smaller cities.

He said Guwahati is the sixth city for the airlines to start its operations and will be commencing flights from Pune from April 9.

The airline is the first to introduce premium economy in domestic sector at a competitive price. “Our menus change every week and will offer new dining experiences for frequent travellers,” he said.

“We already have five aircraft in our fleet, which will increase to six this month, and nine by the year-end,” he said.

The industry also welcomed the launch of the airline saying it will boost tourist inflow.

“Today’s launch by Vistara will not only facilitate tourist inflow to Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim but also have a catalytic effect on business and economic development in the region as a whole,” said Ranjit Barthakur, the chairman of Ficci’s North East Advisory Council.

He said between 2003 and 2013, aircraft movement in the region increased by about 68 per cent whereas the overall passenger load increased by over 270 per cent during the same period.